Ind. Code § 20-35-11-1 Applicability
Sec. 1. This chapter applies after June 30, 2013.
As added by P.L.109-2012, SEC.16.
Ind. Code ch. 20-35-11
Ind. Code ch. 20-35-11
in effectInd. Code § 20-35-11-2 "Center"
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "center" refers to the center for deaf and hard of hearing education established under section 3 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.109-2012, SEC.16.
Ind. Code § 20-35-11-2.2 "Educational evaluation"
Sec. 2.2. As used in this chapter, "educational evaluation" means procedures used to provide information about a student's disability or suspected disability for the student's case conference committee to determine the following:
(1) Whether a student is eligible for special education and related services.
(2) If eligible, the nature and extent of the special education and related services that the student needs.
As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.35.
Ind. Code § 20-35-11-2.3 "Family navigator"
Sec. 2.3. As used in this chapter, "family navigator" means a person who meets the following:
(1) Is credentialed by the office of the secretary of family and social services, with a background in the any of the following fields:
(A) Audiology.
(B) Deaf education.
(C) Early childhood education.
(D) Special education.
(E) Speech-language pathology.
(2) Aids, in an unbiased manner, families in accessing comprehensive resources and information available through the center.
As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.36.
Ind. Code § 20-35-11-2.4 "Full continuum of communication options"
Sec. 2.4. As used in this chapter, "full continuum of communication options" means any method of communication used by a child who is deaf or hard of hearing and the child's parent. The term may include any of the following:
(1) American sign language.
(2) Cued speech.
(3) Listening and spoken language.
(4) Augmentative and alternative communication.
(5) Any combination of communication methods under subdivisions (1) through (4).
As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.37.
Ind. Code § 20-35-11-2.5 "Observe and follow"
Sec. 2.5. As used in this chapter, "observe and follow" means observing progress and following the movement of children identified as deaf and hard of hearing by the following:
(1) The Indiana department of health, including the early hearing detection and intervention program.
(2) The office of the secretary of family and social services.
(3) The department.
(4) Any entity with data concerning the progress or movement of children identified as deaf or hard of hearing.
The term does not include case coordination or direct therapy services.
As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.38.
Ind. Code § 20-35-11-3 Center for deaf and hard of hearing education; establishment; purpose
Sec. 3. (a) The center for deaf and hard of hearing education is established.
(b) The purpose of this article is to support parental choice, including the full continuum of communication options (including American sign language, other forms of sign language, cued speech, listening and spoken language (oral), or any combination of these skills).
As added by P.L.109-2012, SEC.16.
Ind. Code § 20-35-11-4 Duties
Sec. 4. (a) The center shall carry out the following duties in an unbiased manner to ensure that children who are deaf and children who are hard of hearing acquire optimal language skills and academic abilities, regardless of the mode of communication used:
(1) Observe and follow children who are deaf and hard of hearing from:
(A) birth through three (3) years of age, in collaboration with the early hearing detection and intervention program and the office of the secretary of family and social services; and
(B) three (3) years of age through twenty-one (21) years of age and who are enrolled or preparing to enroll in early intervention services, preschool, elementary, or secondary school, in collaboration with the department.
(2) Provide family support from birth through twenty-one (21) years of age by any of the following:
(A) Connecting families to existing public and private resources for information and services, which may include any of the following:
(i) First steps agencies.
(ii) Deaf mentors.
(iii) Interpreting agencies.
(iv) Hearing health care professionals.
(v) Educational professionals.
(B) Providing audiology assessments and management.
(C) Using family navigators.
Except for deaf mentor services, audiology services, and interpreter services, the center may not provide any direct therapy services.
(3) Develop and ensure comprehensive educational evaluations that:
(A) consider the full continuum of communication options; and
(B) make available the following professionals based on the needs of the individual child:
(i) A speech-language pathologist licensed under IC 25-35.6-3.
(ii) A school psychologist licensed by the department.
(iii) An occupational therapist licensed under IC 25-23.5.
(iv) A physical therapist licensed under IC 25-27.
(v) A certified listening and spoken language specialist.
(vi) An American Sign Language specialist, as defined by the National Association of State Directors of Special Education.
(vii) An audiologist licensed under IC 25-35.6-3.
(viii) A deaf educator licensed under IC 20-28-5.
(4) Assist professionals who provide students with sign language interpreting services.
(5) Provide consultation by qualified professionals to schools concerning students who are deaf and students who are hard of hearing, including classroom accommodations, instruction, acoustics, and other environmental aspects.
(6) Act as a liaison with all state agencies that provide services to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing, including the department, the Indiana department of health, the office of the secretary of family and social services, and the Indiana School for the Deaf.
(7) Beginning July 1, 2025, and every three (3) months thereafter, provide the Indiana department of health with aggregate data and metrics concerning the center's duties.
(b) The Indiana department of health shall post the following on the Indiana department of health's website:
(1) The data and metrics submitted by the center under subsection (a)(7).
(2) The center's current operational policies and procedures concerning the center's duties, as specified in this section.
As added by P.L.109-2012, SEC.16. Amended by P.L.56-2023, SEC.198; P.L.147-2023, SEC.33; P.L.143-2025, SEC.39.
Ind. Code § 20-35-11-5 Services provided directly or through contract; intergovernmental fee
Sec. 5. (a) The center may provide the services set forth in section 4 of this chapter directly or through contract or agreement with other entities.
(b) The center may collect an intergovernmental fee from other state agencies, school corporations, or local units only for services provided by the following:
(1) An audiologist.
(2) An interpreter.
(3) A family navigator.
(4) A deaf mentor.
As added by P.L.109-2012, SEC.16. Amended by P.L.143-2025, SEC.40.
Ind. Code § 20-35-11-6 Purpose of family navigators; services
Sec. 6. (a) The purpose of a family navigator is to provide the following:
(1) Unbiased and comprehensive information to assist families in navigating all available statewide resources that support children from birth through three (3) years of age who are deaf and hard of hearing, including information necessary for families to make decisions concerning modes of communication for the child through family outcomes identified on the individual family service plan, as described in IC 12-12.7-2-20(4).
(2) Family training to assist the family in understanding the unique needs of the child and enhance the child's development through family outcomes identified on the individual family service plan. This subdivision may not be construed to include providing direct therapy related to hearing technology, child development, language, or listening milestones.
(3) Part B special education transition support in accordance with state law and the federal Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
(b) A child and the child's family eligible for the infants and toddlers with disabilities program under IC 12-12.7-2 may receive family navigator services in accordance with IC 12-12.7-2-3.
As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.41.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/20Fetched: 10/17/2026